Skoda Auto enters new business segment with launch of Snowman

There has been some speculation regarding Snowman as the name for the new skoda SUV for a long time. The Skoda Snowman is a plug-in hybrid drive for high-alpine terrain with off-road qualities especially in winter.ETAuto | April 02, 2016, 18:35 IST

NEW DELHI: Czech automobile manufacturer Skoda has entered a new business segment by launching its first snow groomer - the Snowman. The company intends to bring it to the market at the end of 2016. There has been some speculation regarding Snowman as the name for the new Skoda SUV for a long time. The Skoda Snowman is a plug-in hybrid drive for high-alpine terrain with off-road qualities especially in winter. It is the first Skoda production model with plug-in hybrid drive.

In addition, the Snowman is equipped with technology that will open up completely new possibilities for piste preparation equipment, claimed the company in an official statement. The Snowman is an essential part of Skoda's 2025 corporate strategy.

The Skoda Snowman is 9.13 metres long (with snowplough and snowblower) and 2.50 metres wide without tracks (5.26 m with snowplough). It has a power output of 295 kW (400 PS), torque of 650 Nm, and has a top speed of 20km/hr.

The glass cabin offers space for up to three people, the air-suspended driver's seat can be heated. It further include magnetic snow shovel holder, a heated cup holder for a Thermos flask and a multi-function box for snow boots and avalanche transceiver. A climate-controlled storage compartment for keeping sunglasses fog-free and for drying hats and gloves is available as an optional extra.

The Skoda Snowman will be launched in Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and other important European markets in December 2016. The starting price is 280,000 euros.

Prices of most SUVs were cut between Rs 1.1 lakh and Rs 3 lakh following the implementation of GST, which subsumed over a dozen central and state levies like excise duty, service tax, and VAT from July 1.